SCO a great opportunity to promote 'Eurasian connectivity initiative'

Experts and analysts on international and regional affairs believe that the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Islamabad will be an important opportunity for Pakistan to strengthen its economic and diplomatic ties with the member countries and to agree on a unified strategy for countering terrorism.

The 23rd two-day SCO summit is scheduled to take place on October 15 and 16 in Islamabad.

Regional affairs experts and analysts said that the SCO presents a significant diplomatic and economic opportunity for Pakistan. International relations expert at Institute of Strategic Study Islamabad (ISSI) Muhammad Taimur Khan said that this summit is a great opportunity for Pakistan to clarify how it can attract investment and contribute to regional connectivity.

Talking to APP he said, "This gives Pakistan an opportunity to push forward its economic and geopolitical interests on a broader stage, advocating for policies that promote regional peace, security, and prosperity. Through this engagement, not only Pakistan can deepen its ties with key regional players but also assert itself as a vital link in the broader Eurasian connectivity initiative."

Analysts believe that the SCO is a big platform and it can turnaround not only in the region but in the entire world. "Pakistan, which is the 5th largest populous country in the world and its strategic location for international trade has further increased its significance to grab the opportunity for the benefits of its people," senior journalist Iftikhar Shirazi told APP.

He said discussions on security issues and regional terrorism will also be significant at this summit, adding, "security issues and terrorism are a key agenda item for the SCO, and this meeting is important for discussing and resolving the issues, particularly the terrorism emanating from Afghanistan, which poses a serious threat to the entire region."